The trial of Hernandez Govan, the man accused of orchestrating the murder of rapper Young Dolph, is currently underway in Memphis, nearly four years after Dolph, born Adolph Thornton Jr., was tragically killed inside a cookie shop. Govan’s trial, which began on August 18, has brought renewed attention to the longstanding feud between Dolph and fellow Memphis rapper Yo Gotti.
At the center of the legal proceedings is Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, Yo Gotti’s late brother, who prosecutors allege was involved in the murder plot against Dolph. Allegations have surfaced suggesting that Big Jook put a $100,000 hit on Dolph, a claim rooted in the intense rivalry between the two rappers.
The feud dates back to 2014 when Dolph, then a rising mixtape artist, publicly turned down an offer to join Gotti’s CMG record label. While Gotti’s career took off with his 2016 album “The Art of Hustle,” which featured the platinum hit “Down in the DM,” the animosity simmered beneath the surface as Dolph continued to assert his presence in the industry.
Dolph intensified the feud in 2017 with the release of a diss track aimed at Gotti, provocatively suggesting he had been involved with Gotti’s child’s mother. While Gotti initially took a more measured approach, he eventually responded with his own diss track while maintaining a level of separation from the conflict.
The situation escalated dramatically in 2017 when Dolph was shot at multiple times while on tour, with over 100 rounds fired at his bulletproof vehicle. Blac Youngsta, a CMG artist, was implicated in the shooting but ultimately faced no charges. The animosity reached another peak when Dolph was shot again in Los Angeles later that year, although Gotti was not named a suspect in the investigation.
Despite a lull in hostilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, the feud reignited with devastating consequences in November 2021 when Young Dolph was shot and killed in Memphis, suffering 22 gunshot wounds. Following his death, four men were arrested in connection with the murder, including Govan, who is now facing trial.
The narrative took another turn in January 2024 when Big Jook was shot and killed in what appeared to be a targeted assassination. While police have yet to publicly link his death to Dolph’s murder, the timing raises questions about the ongoing feud and its violent repercussions.
As the trial of Hernandez Govan unfolds, it sheds light on the tragic and complex history of animosity between Young Dolph and Yo Gotti—a rivalry that has left a profound impact on the Memphis hip hop scene. Keep an eye on hiphopraisedmetheblog.com for further updates on this developing story and the broader implications for the industry.
